F**k it, I’m listening to this Clipse album from under my bed.
Today marks the long-awaited return of Clipse, as they officially drop their highly anticipated album Let God Sort Em Out. Among the standout moments on the project is the menacing and unforgettable track “Whips and Chains,” featuring none other than Kendrick Lamar. As the title suggests, this record is brutal, cold, and steeped in sinister luxury—a brutal anthem fit for a final boss walkout.
From the very beginning, “Whips and Chains” grabs you by the throat with a heart-pounding, twisted instrumental that sounds like a mash-up of championship boxing intro music and the soundtrack to a psychological thriller. Pusha T kicks off the track with razor-sharp delivery, sounding like a heavyweight champ pacing in the corner, ready to swing. He brags about his opulent lifestyle, calls out the envious, and fires direct shots at a certain unnamed rival who’s ducking the smoke. Every bar hits like a jab to the face, and the intent behind each line feels deliberate and deadly.
Malice enters next with a verse that feels downright villainous. His tone is icy, his rhymes laced with eerie calm, and his message clear—he’s embracing his shadow era and is willing to cross some morally gray lines to reassert dominance. The darkness in his bars is matched by his controlled cadence, painting the picture of a man who knows exactly who he is and what he’s capable of.
After a brief and strange interlude that feels like a Pharrell commercial break, Kendrick Lamar slides in and completely hijacks the track with a stunning closer. He begins introspective and whispers, reflecting on the twisted experiences that have warped his worldview. Then, in classic Kendrick fashion, he flips the tempo and morphs into a manic, more aggressive version of himself—his voice rising, cracking, and zig-zagging through internal chaos. He claims the West with conviction, throws out the kumbaya narrative, and makes it clear that he is the darkness, not just someone who survived it.
This song is f**king amazing.
RGM RATING
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
